PITTSBURGH STEELERS (13-4)
OPEN CAMP: July 26
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LAST YEAR: Steelers won second straight AFC North title and third in four years as "Killer Bs" trio of QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Antonio Brown and RB
Le'Veon Bell received plenty of help from rookie WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and
defense that gave up big plays but also led NFL with 57 sacks. Still, Steelers
had trouble when pushed by quality teams. They let second-half lead get away at
home against New England, loss that cost them home-field advantage in playoffs.
And they couldn't find way to beat Jacksonville, which won at Heinz Field not
once but twice, including divisional playoff upset in which seemingly
offensively challenged Jaguars put up 45 points.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: S Morgan Burnett
Darqueze Dennard Jersey , LB Jon Bostic, rookie S Terrell Edmunds, rookie WR James Washington, rookie QB Mason Rudolph.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, defensive backs coach Carnell Lake, WR Martavis Bryant, S Mike Mitchell
Ricky Wagner Jersey , CB William Gay, S, Robert Golden, LB Arthur Moats.
CAMP NEEDS: Steelers promoted longtime QB coach Randy Fichtner to take over play-calling duties after Haley's successful if occasionally turbulent six-year
stint ended in January. Fichtner doesn't expect to give offense massive
overhaul, though he will be forced to experiment during camp at running back
with Bell unlikely to show while he waits to sign one-year franchise tender. One
year after finding potential star in Smith-Schuster, Steelers hope they've done
it again with Washington after record-setting career at Oklahoma State. Race to
fill injured inside linebacker Ryan Shazier's spot is wide open, with Bostic and
Tyler Matakevich getting first crack at lining up next to Vince Williams.
Secondary is also being overhauled with Mitchell
Ryan Grant Jersey , Golden and Gay gone.
EXPECTATIONS: Steelers once again expected to be class of AFC North. While Roethlisberger thinks he can play another handful of seasons, Pittsburgh's
window could be closing faster than he anticipated. Front office failed to reach
long-term agreement with Bell, meaning this will likely be his final season in
Pittsburgh. Steelers have proven they can be productive without him, but elite?
That's tough sell, putting onus on them to get it done this season. Better play
in secondary would help. So would some consistency at outside linebacker, where
Bud Dupree remains enigma as he enters fourth season.
The banged-up Columbus Blue Jackets have signed free agent Eric Robinson of Princeton, and the forward
could play immediately.
The team said Monday he signed a two-year
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players.
Robinson had 17 goals and 14 assists in 36 games as a senior at Princeton.
General manager Jarmko Kekalainen lauds his leadership and says the New Jersey player has excellent speed and ”plays a very reliable two-way game.”
The Blue Jackets lost captain Nick Foligno for two to four weeks with a lower-body injury. Robinson will meet the team in Edmonton for the start of a
three-game road trip.
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